Qatar vs UAE, ICJ Hearing for indication of Provisional Measures

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 June 2018, in the proceedings instituted by the State of Qatar on 11 June 2018 against the United Arab Emirates, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.

The 2017–18 Qatar diplomatic crisis began when several countries abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar in June 2017. These countries included Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt, which imposed a “land, sea, and air blockade” on Qatar. Several other countries withdrew diplomats or downgraded diplomatic relations.

Qatar has contended that The UAE’s actions have caused significant harm to Qataris, compounded by the historically close ties between the people of both nations. The collective expulsion of Qataris from the UAE and the ban on travel between the two countries have resulted in numerous cases of forced separation of Qatari families, which continues to this day.